August 23, 2014 6:59 AM
President Obama
The public’s grade on the job President Obama is doing (as found by Gallup 8/14-16) is 41% approval/53% disapproval.Of the six most recent, two-term Presidents at this point in their second term, Obama’s current approval rating continues to be better than Richard Nixon and is tied with George Bush II. He trails Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Dwight Eisenhower. The list of 6 follows:
| Approve | Disapprove | |
| Reagan | 61 | 27 (8/11/86) |
| Clinton | 62 | 35 (8/23/98) |
| Eisenhower | 56 | 27 (8/25/58) |
| Obama | 42 | 51 8/18/14) |
| G Bush (II) | 42 | 54 (8/20/06) |
| Nixon | 24 | 66 (8/5/74) |
| Date | NBC/WSJ | WP/ABC | CNN/ORC | NYT/CBS |
| August 2014 | 40/54% | xxx | xxx | 41/50% (CBS) |
| July 2014 | xxx | xxx | 42/55% | xxx |
| June 2014 | 42/53% | xxx | 43/55% | 40/54% |
| May 2014 | xxx | 43/53% | 43/55% | 43/48% (CBS) |
| April 2014 | 44/50% | 41/52% | xxx | xxx |
| March 2014 | 41/54% | 46/50% | 43/53% | 43/50% |
| Jan 2014 | 43/51% | 45/52% | 45/51% | 46/47% (CBS) |
| July 2013 | 45/50% | 49/44% | xxx | 48/45% (CBS) |
| Jan 2013 | 52/44% | 55/41% | 55/43% | 51/41% |
53% disapprove of the job Obama is doing in handling the economy and 60% disapprove of the way he is handling foreign policy, while only 36% approve. The number disapproving his handling of foreign policy is the highest and the approval number the lowest recorded in the NBC/WSJ survey. One year ago, 49% disapproved and 41% approved. [NBC/WSJ 8/14]
45% believe that Obama has gone too far in “expanding the power of the Presidency and the Executive Branch.” In 2006, 48% believed that George Bush had gone too far expanding the Presidency and the Executive Branch. 22% believe that Obama has not gone far enough. 14% had that view about Bush.
When he took office, 80% said they believed Obama was a “strong and decisive leader.” Now, 48% share that view, while 52% say that description does not apply to him.
57% do not think Obama can manage the government effectively. And folks are split 49%/49% on whether he is sincere in what he says. In January 2011, 65% thought he was sincere. [CNN/ORC 7/20/14]
When it comes to how Americans “feel” about Obama, 47% say they have negative feelings and only 40% have positive feelings. This is the worst score he has had on this question during his tenure in office. [NBC/WSJ 6/14]
